Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent |
6,093,053
|
Horioka
,   et al.
|
July 25, 2000
|
Electric component with soldering-less terminal fitment
Abstract
An electric component with a soldering-less terminal fitment capable of
preventing a contact portion of the terminal fitment from being detached
from an electrode on a surface of a circuit board due to slippage thereof
on the circuit board. A terminal fitment arranged between a circuit board
and an insulating casing includes a connection conductor holding section
and a contact terminal section having a proximal portion formed integrally
with the connection conductor holding section. The contact terminal
section includes a contact portion, which is pressedly contacted with an
electrode on the circuit board by elasticity. The contact terminal section
includes a curved portion which is curved in a manner to be projected in a
direction of insertion of a connection conductor through the terminal
fitment and provided on a distal end thereof with the contact portion. The
contact portion is constituted by a biting element. The biting element is
so inclined that a distal end thereof is positioned on a projected side of
the curved portion as compared with a proximal portion thereof.
Inventors:
|
Horioka; Yasuaki (Osawano-machi, JP);
Kotani; Hirokazu (Osawano-machi, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (Toyama Pref., JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
160662 |
Filed:
|
September 25, 1998 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Sep 25, 1997[JP] | 9-259550 |
| Sep 21, 1998[JP] | 10-266074 |
Current U.S. Class: |
439/444; 439/81 |
Intern'l Class: |
H01R 004/26 |
Field of Search: |
439/441,437,438,444
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3122604 | Feb., 1964 | Cook et al. | 439/437.
|
4471339 | Sep., 1984 | Fukada et al. | 338/162.
|
5373101 | Dec., 1994 | Barabolak | 174/35.
|
5546280 | Aug., 1996 | Hasebe et al. | 361/752.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
0555472 | Apr., 1977 | SU | 439/438.
|
Primary Examiner: Paumen; Gary F.
Assistant Examiner: Hammond; Briggitte R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pearne & Gordon LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electric component with a soldering-less terminal fitment,
comprising:
a circuit board provided on a front surface thereof with at least one
circuit pattern including electrodes;
an insulating casing including an inner surface and a peripheral wall;
said insulating casing having said circuit board received therein so as to
form a space between said front surface of said circuit board and said
inner surface of said insulating casing and surround an outer periphery of
said circuit board with said peripheral wall of said insulating casing;
said peripheral wall of said insulating casing being formed with a
through-hole via which a connection conductor is inserted into said space
of said insulating casing; and
a terminal fitment including a connection conductor holding section
arranged between each of said electrodes on said circuit board and said
inner surface of said insulating casing to hold an end of the connection
conductor inserted into said space via said through-hole without soldering
and a contact terminal section formed integrally with said connection
conductor holding section and including a contact portion contacted with
said electrode;
said contact terminal section including a curved portion formed so as to be
projected in a direction apart from said peripheral wall of said
insulating casing through which said through-hole is formed;
said curved portion being provided so as to exhibit elasticity to forcedly
press said contact portion of said contact terminal section against said
electrode when it is kept compressed;
said contact portion of said contact terminal section being formed by
raising a portion of said contact terminal section positioned at a distal
end of said curved portion toward said front surface of said circuit
board, to thereby provide at least one biting element having a distal end
biting into said electrode;
said biting element being so inclined that said distal end thereof is
positioned on a projected side of said curved portion as compared with a
proximal portion thereof;
said connection conductor holding section includes a flat plate portion
having a plate surface arranged opposite to an opening of said
through-hole facing said space and a plurality of biting sections formed
by raising said flat plate portion in a direction of insertion of the
connection conductor through said flat plate portion;
said biting sections being formed into a shape which permits the end of the
connection conductor to be interposedly held therebetween and said biting
sections to bite into the end of the connection conductor when force is
applied to the connection conductor in a direction in which the connected
conductor is drawn out of said connection conductor holding section;
said curved portion of said contact terminal section and said biting
element each have a plate surface contiguous to said plate surface of said
flat plate portion and are so formed that a plate-like portion in an
elongated shape which is contiguous to said flat plate portion is
machined;
said plate-like portion being formed at a distal end thereof with a punched
hole for providing said biting element of which a distal portion is
arranged on said distal end of said plate-like portion; and
said contact terminal section further includes a pair of interposing
portions arranged outside said punched hole to interpose said biting
element therebetween and bent toward said distal end of said plate-like
portion, so that said biting element may be outwardly projected from said
punched hole.
2. The electric component as defined in claim 1, wherein said plate-like
portion is formed at a portion thereof positionally corresponding to said
curved portion thereof with a slit of an elongated shape so as to extend
in a longitudinal direction thereof;
said slit being formed so as to communicate with said punched hole.
3. The electric component as defined in claim 1, wherein said biting
element is positioned at said distal end thereof in a virtual plane
defined so as to be parallel to said plate surface of said flat plate
portion and be in a plane of said flat plate portion.
4. An electric component with a soldering-less terminal fitment,
comprising:
a circuit board provided on a front surface thereof with at least one
circuit pattern including electrodes;
an insulating casing including an inner surface and a peripheral wall;
said insulating casing having said circuit board received therein so as to
form a space between said front surface of said circuit board and said
inner surface of said insulating casing and surround an outer periphery of
said circuit board with said peripheral wall of said insulating casing;
said peripheral wall of said insulating casing being formed with a
through-hole via which a connection conductor is inserted into said space
of said insulating casing; and
a terminal fitment including a connection conductor holding section
arranged between each of said electrodes on said circuit board and said
inner surface of said insulating casing to hold an end of the connection
conductor inserted into said space via said through-hole without soldering
and a contact terminal section formed integrally with said connection
conductor holding section and including a contact portion contacted with
said electrode;
said connection conductor holding section including a flat plate portion
having a plate surface arranged opposite to an opening of said
through-hole facing said space and a plurality of biting sections formed
by raising said flat plate portion in a direction of insertion of the
connection conductor through said flat plate portion;
said biting sections being formed into a shape which permits the end of the
connection conductor to be interposedly held therebetween and permits said
biting sections to bite into the end of the connection conductor when
force is applied to the connection conductor in a direction in which the
connection conductor is drawn out of said connection conductor holding
section;
said contact terminal section including a curved portion which is so formed
that a plate-like portion of an elongated shape having a plate surface
contiguous to said plate surface of said flat plate portion and connected
at a proximal end thereof to said flat plate portion is projected in a
direction apart from said peripheral wall of said insulating casing
through which said through-hole is formed;
said plate-like portion being formed with a punched hole for providing said
biting element of which a distal portion is positioned on a side of said
distal end of said plate-like portion; and
said contact terminal section further including a pair of interposing
portions arranged outside said punched hole to interpose said biting
element therebetween and bent toward said distal end of said plate-like
portion, to thereby outwardly project said biting element from said
punched hole, resulting in providing said contact portion.
5. The electric component as defined in claim 4, wherein said plate-like
portion is formed at said curved portion thereof with a slit of an
elongated shape so as to extend in a longitudinal direction thereof;
said slit being formed so as to communicate with said punched hole.
6. The electric component as defined in claim 5, wherein said biting
element is positioned at said distal end thereof in a virtual plane
defined so as to be parallel to said plate surface of said flat plate
portion and be in a plane of said flat plate portion.
7. The electric component as defined in claim 6, wherein said virtual plane
is so defined that an angle between said virtual plane and said biting
element is set to be 45 degrees.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electric component with a soldering-less
terminal fitment, and more particularly to an electric component with a
terminal fitment which permits connection of a connection conductor
without soldering.
Use of flon is subject to restriction in view of environmental pollution,
so that it is highly required to connect a terminal conductor, a lead wire
or the like to a connection electrode of a circuit board without
soldering. This is likewise true of an electric component called a focus
pack used for adjustment of a focus voltage of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a
screen voltage thereof or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,339 discloses a high-voltage variable resistor unit
including a terminal connection structure for connecting, by means of a
terminal fitment like a coiled spring provided at one end thereof with a
ring into which a connection conductor or connection terminal is inserted,
a connection electrode of the resistor unit to the connection terminal
without soldering. Such a conventional terminal fitment as taught in the
U.S. patent fails to firmly hold the connection terminal therein, to
thereby cause the connection terminal to be readily released or detached
from the terminal fitment. Also, it tends to cause a failure in electrical
connection between the connection terminal and the terminal fitment.
Further, the above-described construction of the terminal fitment requires
to keep the connection terminal and connection electrode connected
together prior to incorporation of a circuit board in an insulating
casing. This, when use of a lead wire of an increased length is required
for the connection conductor, causes the long lead wire to obstruct
assembling of the high-voltage variable resistor unit. In particular, when
the high-voltage variable resistor unit including the terminal connection
structure is combined with a fly-back transformer, the high-voltage
variable resistor must be placed in a heating oven together with the long
lead wire for the purpose of subjecting a resin material for molding of
the fly-back transformer to heat curing. Unfortunately, the long lead wire
renders the operation highly troublesome and requires to provide a space
sufficient to receive the long lead wire therein in the heating oven,
leading to a deterioration in production efficiency.
In order to solve the problem, the assignee proposed an electronic or
electric component including a terminal fitment for connecting a core of a
lead wire to a connection electrode of a circuit board without using any
soldering, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5, 546, 280, which corresponds to
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 318669/1994. The
terminal fitment disclosed includes a connection conductor holding section
and a contact terminal section of which a proximal portion is formed in a
manner to be integral with the connection conductor holding section. The
contact terminal section includes a contact portion pressedly contacted
with an electrode of the circuit board by elasticity. The contact terminal
section includes a curved portion which is projectedly curved in a
direction of insertion of the connection conductor therethrough, to
thereby provide the contact portion.
Unfortunately, the electric component disclosed in the U.S. patent causes
the contact portion on a free end of the contact terminal section to be
detached from the electrode on the circuit board due to slippage thereof
on the electrode, resulting in a failure in contact often occurring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing disadvantages
of the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
electric component with a soldering-less terminal fitment which is capable
of preventing a contact portion of a contact terminal section of the
terminal fitment from being detached from an electrode on a surface of a
circuit board due to slippage thereof on the circuit board when the
terminal fitment is interposedly arranged between an insulating casing and
the circuit board.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric
component with a soldering-less terminal fitment which is capable of
positively arranging the terminal fitment between an insulating casing and
a circuit board.
In accordance with the present invention, an electric component with a
soldering-less terminal fitment is provided. The electric component
includes a circuit board provided on a front surface thereof with at least
one circuit pattern including electrodes and an insulating casing
including an inner surface and a peripheral wall. The insulating casing
has the circuit board received therein so as to form a space between the
front surface of the circuit board and the inner surface of the insulating
casing and surround an outer periphery of the circuit board with the
peripheral wall of the insulating casing. The peripheral wall of the
insulating casing is formed with a through-hole via which a connection
conductor is inserted into the space of the insulating casing. The
electric component also includes a terminal fitment arranged between each
of the electrodes on the circuit board and the inner surface of the
insulating casing. The terminal fitment includes a connection conductor
holding section for holding an end of the connection conductor inserted
into the space via the through-hole without soldering and a contact
terminal section formed in a manner to be integral with the connection
conductor holding section and including a contact portion contacted with
the electrode. The contact terminal section includes a curved portion
formed so as to be projected in a direction apart from the peripheral wall
of the insulating casing through which the through-hole is formed or in a
direction of insertion of the connection conductor through the terminal
fitment. The curved portion is provided so as to exhibit elasticity
sufficient to forcedly press the contact portion of the contact terminal
section against the electrode when it is kept compressed.
In the present invention, the contact portion of the contact terminal
section is formed by raising a portion of the contact terminal section
positioned at a distal end of the curved portion toward the front surface
of the circuit board, to thereby provide at least one biting element
having a distal end adapted to bite into the electrode. The biting element
is so inclined that the distal end thereof is positioned on a projected
side of the curved portion as compared with a proximal portion thereof.
Thus, the biting element is raised so that the distal end thereof is
positioned on the projected side of the curved portion as compared with
the proximal portion thereof.
Such construction permits the biting element to bite into the electrode to
prevent the contact portion from being detached from the electrode while
being slid on the electrode. In particular, formation of the biting
element in a manner to position the distal end thereof on the projected
side of the curved portion as compared with the proximal portion thereof
exhibits significant advantages. More particularly, elasticity of the
curved portion of the contact terminal section of the terminal fitment
permits the biting element to positively bite into the electrode when the
curved portion is compressed or deformed so as to approach both ends of
the curved portion to each other during assembling of the electric
component, to thereby keep the contact portion from being released from
the electrode.
The terminal fitment is preferably integrally formed of a single conductive
metal plate. This facilitates formation of the terminal fitment and
reduces a number of parts required, leading to a reduction in cost of the
electric component. Also, it facilitates incorporation of the terminal
fitment into the insulating casing.
The connection conductor holding section may be constructed in any desired
manner. Typically, the connection conductor holding section includes a
flat plate portion having a plate surface arranged opposite to an opening
of the through-hole facing the space and a plurality of biting sections
formed by raising the flat plate portion in a direction of insertion of
the connection conductor through the flat plate portion. The biting
sections are formed into a shape which permits the end of the connection
conductor to be interposedly held therebetween and the biting sections to
bite into the end of the connection conductor when force is applied to the
connection conductor in a direction in which the connected conductor is
drawn out of the connection conductor holding section. In such a case, the
curved portion of the contact terminal section and the biting element each
have a plate surface contiguous to the plate surface of the flat plate
portion and are formed at a proximal portion thereof with a plate-like
portion of an elongated shape in a manner to be contiguous to the flat
plate portion by mechanical processing. More specifically, the plate-like
portion is formed at a distal end thereof with a punched hole for
providing the biting element of which a distal portion is arranged on the
distal end of the plate-like portion. Also, the contact terminal section
further includes a pair of interposing portions arranged outside the
punched hole to interpose the biting element therebetween and bent toward
the distal end of the plate-like portion, so that the biting element may
be outwardly projected from the punched hole. Such construction prevents
the proximal portion of the biting element from being formed with any bent
portion during formation of the biting element. This permits an increase
in mechanical strength of the biting element, to thereby substantially
prevent deformation of the biting element during assembling of the
electric component. If the bent portion is provided at the proximal
portion of the biting element, application of increased force to the
biting element causes the biting element to be readily bent at the bent
portion, to thereby render the assembling troublesome.
In order to adjust elasticity of the curved portion, the plate-like portion
may be formed at a portion thereof positionally corresponding to the
curved portion thereof with a slit of an elongated shape in a manner to
extend in a longitudinal direction thereof. In this instance, the slit is
formed so as to communicate with the punched hole. This facilitates
formation of the slit and punched hole. Also, this permits the punched
hole to constitute a part of the slit, to thereby increase a range of
adjustment of the elasticity.
The biting element is preferably formed into a length and an inclination
angle which permit it to be positioned at the distal end thereof in a
virtual plane defined so as to be parallel to the plate surface of the
flat plate portion and be in a plane of the flat plate portion. This
ensures positive biting of the biting element into the electrode during
compression of the curved portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present
invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like
reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout;
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing an essential part
of an embodiment of an electrical component according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A is a front elevation view showing a terminal fitment incorporated
in the electrical component shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3B is a right side view of the terminal fitment shown in FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the terminal fitment shown in FIG. 3A; and
FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing a modification of the terminal fitment of
FIG. 3A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Now, an electric component with a soldering-less terminal fitment according
to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3C, an embodiment of an electrical component
according to the present invention is illustrated, which is realized in
the form of a high-voltage variable resistor unit. The high-voltage
variable resistor unit, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a circuit board 1
constituted by a ceramic substrate which is formed on a front surface
thereof with at least one variable resistance circuit pattern including a
plurality of electrodes and variable resistances. In FIG. 1, of the plural
electrodes, only one electrode E electrically contacted with a terminal
fitment 6, which will be described hereinafter, is illustrated for the
sake of brevity. The electrode E may be a thick-film electrode made of,
for example, a conductive paste prepared by mixing a glass paste material
with a silver powder. Reference numeral 2 designates an insulating casing
formed on one side thereof with an opening. In the illustrated embodiment,
the opening is formed on a lower side of the insulating casing 2. The
insulating casing 2 is provided therein with a step or rib 2b, onto which
the circuit board 1 is joined at an outer periphery thereof by means of an
epoxy adhesive 8. This results in the circuit board 1 being firmly
arranged in the insulating casing 2 so as to define a space between the
front surface of the circuit board 1 and an inner surface 2a of the
insulating casing 2. The insulating casing 2 is formed at a peripheral
wall 2c thereof surrounding the outer periphery of the circuit board 1
with a through-hole 3 via which a core of a lead wire 4 or an end of a
connection conductor 5 is guided into the insulating casing 2.
The insulating casing 2 is provided therein with the terminal fitment 6,
which is arranged in a manner to be interposed between the front surface
of the circuit board 1 and the inner surface 2a of the insulating casing.
More specifically, the terminal fitment 6 includes a connection conductor
holding section 6a fitted in a terminal fitment fit section 7 arranged in
the insulating casing 2. The terminal fitment fit section 7 is formed with
a connection conductor insertion space 7a in a manner to communicate with
the through-hole 3 formed via the peripheral wall of the insulating casing
2. Also, the connection conductor insertion space 7a is formed so as to be
open on a side thereof facing the opening of the insulating casing 2 or
the front surface of the circuit board 1. Also, the terminal fitment fit
section 7 is formed with a fit groove 7b in a manner to be perpendicular
to the connection conductor insertion space 7a. The fit groove 7b is
fitted therein with a flat plate portion 6a1 of the connection conductor
holding section 6a of the terminal fitment 6.
The terminal fitment 6 includes the connection conductor holding section 6a
for holding the connection conductor 5 thereon, a contact terminal section
6b provided integrally with the connection conductor holding section 6a
and a plate-like section 6c arranged opposite to the contact terminal
section 6b and having a plate surface extending in a direction
perpendicular to a plate surface of the flat plate portion 6a1 of the
connection conductor holding section 6a. The terminal fitment 6 is made of
a conductive metal plate such as stainless steel, bronze or the like by
mechanical processing such as pressing, bending or the like and
constructed so as to permit the connection conductor 5 to be electrically
connected to the electrode E without soldering. The conductive metal plate
is preferably subject to bending, to thereby exhibit elasticity to a
degree. For this purpose, it may be made of, for example, SUS 301
stainless steel of 0.1 to 0.4 mm in thickness, bronze of 0.2 to 0.5 mm in
thickness or the like.
The connection conductor holding section 6a includes the plate section 6a1
formed into a substantially rectangular shape. The flat plate section 6a1
is formed with four slits SI to S4 in a manner to extend from a center
thereof toward four corners thereof. This results in four biting elements
6d to 6g being formed between the respective adjacent slits S1 to S4, each
of which bites into an outer surface or periphery of the connection
conductor 5 inserted through the connection conductor holding section 6a.
The slits S1 to S4 are formed at a proximal end thereof with holes S1a to
S4a having a diameter considerably larger than a width of the slits S1 to
S4, respectively. The biting sections 6d to 6g are raised at a distal end
thereof in a direction in which the connection conductor 5 is inserted
through the connection conductor holding section 6a, resulting in being
inclined. An angle at which the biting sections 6d to 6g are inclined is
so set that a distance between two biting sections 6d and 6f or 6e and 6g
opposite to each other is smaller than a diameter of the connection
conductor 5. Such inclination of the biting sections 6d to 6g permits the
connection conductor 5 to be positioned at the center of the connection
conductor holding section 6a and facilitates insertion of the connection
conductor 5 through the connection conductor holding section 6a. So long
as the connection conductor 5 has hardness increased to a degree, it is
not necessarily required to keep the biting sections 6d to 6g inclined
because the connection conductor 5 increased in hardness can be inserted
through the connection conductor holding section 6a while forcing the
biting sections 6d to 6g. The biting sections 6d to 6g are cut at a distal
end thereof into an arcuately recessed shape, resulting in readily biting
into the outer periphery of the connection conductor. When the connection
conductor 5 is inserted through the connection conductor holding section
6a while forcedly expanding the biting sections 6d to 6g, the connection
conductor 5 is clamped by the biting sections 6d to 6g, resulting in being
electrically connected thereto. When force acting to draw out the
connection conductor 5 from the connection conductor holding section 6a is
applied to the connection conductor 5, the biting sections 6d to 6g are
permitted to bite deeply into the outer periphery of the connection
conductor 5, to thereby keep the connection conductor 5 from being readily
released from the connection conductor holding section 6a. Thus, the
connection conductor 5 is positively electrically connected to the
terminal fitment 6 without soldering.
The contact terminal section 6b includes an elongated plate-like portion
6b1 having a plate surface contiguous to the plate surface of the flat
plate portion 6a1 of the connection conductor holding section 6a and
connected at a proximal portion thereof to the flat-plate portion 6a1. The
plate-like portion 6b1 is formed with a curved portion 6b2 and a contact
portion 6b3 by mechanical processing such as pressing, bending or the
like. The curved portion 6b2 is curvedly formed so that the elongated
plate-like portion 6b1 is arcuately projected in a direction apart from
the peripheral wall 2c of the insulating casing 2 through which the
through-hole 3 is formed. The curved portion 6b2 is formed with a slit
6b41, which is arranged so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the
elongated plate-like portion 6b1. The plate-like portion 6b1 is formed at
a distal end thereof with a punched hole 6b42, resulting in a single
biting element 6b5 being provided at the distal end of the plate-like
portion 6b1. In the illustrated embodiment, the punched hole 6b42 is
arranged so as to communicate with the slit 6b41.
The contact terminal section 6b also includes a pair of interposing
portions 6b6 arranged outside the punched hole 6b42 to interpose the
biting element 6b5 therebetween. The interposing portions 6b are bent
toward the distal end of the plate-like portion 6b1, so that the biting
element 6b5 may be outwardly projected from the punched hole 6b42. In the
illustrated embodiment, the biting element 6b5 constitutes the contact
portion 6b3 which bites into the electrode E. In other words, the biting
element 6b5 constituting the contact portion 6b3 is formed by outwardly
raising a portion thereof surrounded by the punched hole 6b42 formed at
the distal end of the plate-like portion 6b1. The biting element 6b5 is so
formed that a distal end thereof is positioned on a projected side of the
projection of the curved portion 6b2 as compared with a proximal portion
thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the biting element 6b5 is formed
into a length and an angle .alpha. which permit the distal end of the
biting element 6b5 to be positioned in a virtual plane a defined so as to
extend in parallel to the plate surface of the flat plate portion 6a1 of
the connection conductor holding section 6a and be in a plane of the flat
plate portion 6a1. The angle .alpha. is defined to be an angle between a
virtual perpendicular plane b perpendicular to the virtual plane a and the
biting element 6b 5 or between the virtual plane a and the biting element
6b5. The angle .alpha. is preferably set to be about 45 degrees.
The plate-like section 6c is arranged so as to extend across the plate
surface of the flat plate 6a1 on a side thereof opposite to a side thereof
on which the contact terminal section 6b is arranged. The plate-like
section 6c is contacted with a deep surface of the connection conductor
insertion space 7a constituting a part of the inner surface of the
insulating casing 2, to thereby stably hold the terminal fitment 6
therein.
For assembling of the high-voltage variable resistor unit or electric
component, firstly the insulating casing 2 is placed while keeping the
opening facing up. Then, the terminal fitment 6, an operation shaft (not
shown) and a slider (not shown) are received in the insulating casing 2
and then the circuit board 1 is joined onto the rib 2b of the insulating
casing 2. At this time, the curved portion 6b2 of the contact terminal
section 6b of the terminal fitment 6 is compressed or deformed so that
both ends of the curved portion 6b2 are approached to each other. The
biting element 6b5 bites at the distal end thereof into the electrode E,
to thereby prevent the contact portion 6b3 constituted by the biting
element 6b5 from being released from the electrode E. Also, the contact
portion 6b3 of the contact terminal section 6b is elastically pressed
against the electrode on the circuit board 1, so that the terminal fitment
6 may be electrically connected to the electrode E of the circuit board 1
without soldering.
In the illustrated embodiment, the contact terminal section 6b is provided
with the single biting element 6b5. Alternatively, two or more biting
elements 6b51 and 6b52 may be provided at the distal end of the contact
terminal section 6b as shown in FIG. 4.
As can be seen from the foregoing, in the present invention, the contact
portion of the contact terminal section is constituted by at least one
biting element, to thereby be prevented from being detached from the
electrode due to slippage thereof on the electrode because it effectively
bites into the electrode. In particular, when the biting element 6b5 is so
formed that the distal end thereof is positioned on the projected side of
the curved portion 6b2 as compared with the proximal portion thereof, it
is ensured that the biting element positively bites at the distal end
thereof into the electrode due to elasticity of the curved portion of the
contact terminal section of the terminal fitment when the curved portion
is compressed during assembling of the electric component.
While preferred embodiment of the invention have been described with a
certain degree of particularity with reference to the accompanying
drawings, obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of
the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the
scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise
than as specifically described.
Top